Olympus E-620 Digital SLR Review
Features and Technology
Olympus attempts to liberate users from a computer and editing software with its new Art Filters and Multiple Exposure mode. While it is possible to achieve similar effects using a computer and your favorite photo editor, we have to admit it’s a lot faster and easier to simply select a mode in-camera and shoot. To give you a better feel for the effect each filter provides, here are some sample shots:
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We all know dust and cameras don’t mix. To help combat dust, the Olympus E-620 also employs a Supersonic Wave Filter. This patented ultrasonic technology vibrates to remove dust and other particles from the camera’s image sensor. Any debris is captured on a special adhesive membrane each time the camera is turned on.
Since Olympus was one of the pioneers of Live View shooting, we expect its cameras to offer this feature. Indeed, the E-620 offers Live View that is made even better with the camera’s articulating display that enabled us to capture angles that wouldn’t otherwise be possible. We held the camera near the ground and tilted the screen upward, flipped the screen 180 degrees for portrait shots, and even held the camera above our heads with the screen tilted downward.
Because the E-620 uses the Four Thirds sensor, it generates 4:3 aspect ratio images which are narrower than the traditional 3:2 aspect ratio used by other DSLRs. You’re not limited to this ratio, however: The E-620 lets you shoot using one of four aspect ratios. When shooting in Live View Mode, the aspect ratios are masked on the preview. Aspect ratios for the camera include the 4:3 aspect ratio that is well-suited for an 8 x 10-inch enlargement; the 16:9 aspect ratio for display on a widescreen TV; the 3:2 aspect ratio used in other DSLRs; and a square 6:6 aspect ratio. Of course, you can always crop the picture on a computer to achieve a similar effect, but having the option in-camera is nice.
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Like many cameras these days, the E-620 offers Face Detection that promises to distinguish between people’s faces and the background and adjust the focus and exposure accordingly. The E-620’s Face Detection feature can track up to eight faces within the image area, even if people are moving.
The E-620 offered a good variety of white balance settings, including 8 pre-sets, an automatic mode, Kelvin temperature selection, and a custom option. You can preview the effects of each of these white balance options as well as various exposure compensation adjustments when shooting in Live View mode.
When you’re attempting to capture a fast-action shot, the E-620’s continuous shooting modes will come in handy. The E-620 offers two continuous shooting modes: Continuous Low, which shoots 1 to 3 fps as set in the menu, and Continuous High, which captures at the camera’s top speed of 4fps. Olympus claims you can capture unlimited Large Normal JPEGs up to the capacity of your memory card when using a high-speed card or up to five RAW files.
